Beam ceiling suspension member and system



Oct. 7, 1969 e. w, MoD ETAL 3,470,656

BEAM CEILING SUSPENSION MEMBER AND SYSTEM Filed Jan. 16,1967

f'W/(n-w* George 14./ /l/aa I/w'q J Mad/Za James abz/f7 1N VEN TOR5 BY@oww/3%@ United States Patent Ofi ice 3,470,656 Patented Oct. 7, 19693,470,666 BEAM CEILING SUSPENSION MEMBER AND SYSTEM George W. Mod, 211N. Forest Ave., Mount Prospect,

Ill. 60056, Joseph J. Medica, 620 Lee St., Des Plaines,

Ill. 60016, and James E. Bobzin, 807 Spring St.,

Roselle, Ill. 60172 Filed `Ian. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 609,539 Int. Cl. E04b5/52; E04c 1/00 U.S. Cl. 52--311 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Abeam of matted fibers is grooved along opposite, longitudinal edges toserve as a starting strip to support ceiling panels having tongue andgrooved edges. The beam is provided with a thin decorative lm.

BACKGROUND OF THE lINVENTION Field of the invention This inventionpertains to a ceiling suspension member and system, and moreparticularly to a ceiling suspension member which enables facile andeconomical installation of panel members in a particular decorativeassembly.

Description of the prior art In the building construction field, andmore specifically, in the eld of home improvement projects, rooms may bemade more attractive and functional by the installation of preformedpanels or tiles.

In general, the home improvement market has a need for a simple andinexpensive suspension member and means for installing ceiling panels ortile. The appearance of old and cracked ceilings can be greatly improvedand their attractiveness enhanced by the installation of ceiling panelsby the home owners themselves. Among the least complicated means forinstalling a ceiling is the direct nailing or stapling of ceiling panelsto the flat overhead or to spaced furring strips.

The ceiling panels are generally rectangular and have two adjacent sideswhich are kerfed to form grooves having upper flanges coextensive withthe back of the tile, extending outwardly beyond a bevelled recessedportion below the grooves. The other two adjacent sides have upperrecessed areas and tongues of each panel are adapted to be received inthe grooves of adjacent panels to t tightly therein and support thetongued edges of the tiles. The extending flanged edges above thegrooves are nailed or stapled directly to the overhead or to furringstrips thereon.

For a more detailed description of a suitable type of ceiling panel ortile, reference may |be had to the disclosure of U.S. Patent No.2,341,645. In describing the manner of installing the ceiling tile, thepatent clearly discloses that the center lines of the wall or ceilingare rst formed and the odd dimensions from the edges are laid out sothat the tile may be laid with the odd dimension size tile, that is, thetiles are so laid that the tiles are started from the edges of the wallor ceiling surface rather than started from the center of the room.

It 4should be realized that the specific shape of the grooves andflanges is not to be rigidly construed to be that of the referencepatent, It is suicient that they be complementally formed so that angesare received in the grooves to form a secure t. After the first row isinstalled, each subsequent row must be put up in order, progressingacross the room until the opposite wall is reached. A border trim isinstalled to nish the ceiling.

vOne of the difficulties, especially for the amateur, is the problem ofaccurate measurements in cutting the rst row of panels or tiles so thatthe last row can be installed with an even border at each wall of theroom. It is infrequent that any room will be an even multiple of thedimensions of the panels and so almost inevitably a certain -amount ofcutting of the border tiles will have to be done before the job isstarted. Any miscalculation can result in a totally ruined ceiling.

In modern decor, the use of a wood beam as an integral part of ayceiling has been popular in certain types of rooms. If these beams arefashioned from natural wood, cut and nished for interior application,they are very expensive. Certain substitutes such as v'eneered plywoodor even hollow, thin sheet metal beams with laminated vinyl coveringssimulating wood beams have been used. Such simulated metal beams do notform a part of the suspension system but merely are attached to theceiling; generally, to the suspension members. Folded cardboardsimulating wood beams have been tried, but they are generally too flimsyto supply a supportive function. In addition, the machinery used tofabricate the simulated wood beams from cardboard or sheet metal differsfrom that generally available in the ceiling panel manufacturing plantand requires an additional capital expenditure to fabricate.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a novelsuspension member and system which add a decorative appearance to aroom.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novelsuspension member and system which simplifies the installation of apanel ceiling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a novelsuspension member which is used as a starter strip in the center of aceiling and a ceiling system which allows rows of ceiling panels ortiles to be easily erected in serial rows in two directions from acenterline. The panels of the outermost two rows are cut to size beforebeing secured in place. Since the required width of the outermost tworows can be easily measured, the installation is very simple and ycan bedone with accuracy by an amateur. In contrast to this, the other methodof starting at one wall and placing rows of panels until the other wallis reached, requires extreme care in the yfirst measurements, or theentire ceiling will 'be unsymmertrical and unsightly.

In addition, the novel suspension member can easily be manufactured tosimulate a wood beam for decorative effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other objects and advantagesof the invention will become more apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in whichlike `figures represent like elements and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of -a -ceiling incorporatingthe suspension member of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the ceiling of FIGUREl, taken along lines 2 2 thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View of a portion of a ceiling showing analternative variation of the invention, and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are detailed perspective views of the novel suspensionmembers of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIGURES 1 and2, there is shown a portion of a ceiling 10 suspended from typicalfurring `strips 14. The forward or leading edge of the ceiling is shownwith a row of panels removed to expose the furring strips 14, althoughit will be understood that the forward end would ordinarily rest againsta wall of the room in which the ceiling is installed. Furring strips 14are arranged in parallel relation and spaced at multiples equal to thewidth of a row of ceiling panels.

A center beam 16 forms a support for ceiling tiles or panels and isplaced along a centerline of the room to which the ceiling is to beapplied and secured to furring strip 14 by nails or staples 13 which aredriven through the outwardly extending flanges 20 of beam 16.Longitudinal grooves 22 and 23 are cut into the sides of beam 16immediately below flanges 20. As will be explained hereinafter, thethickness of flange 20 is equal to the depth of recess along adjacentedges of ceiling tiles. Sufficient nails or staples 18 are used to holdthe center beam in place. Individual ceiling tiles 25 are inserted withtheir tongues 27 inserted in the longitudinal groove 22. The oppositesides of tiles 25 have flanges 30 which are secured to furring strips14. A second row of ceiling tiles 31 is then placed in position with thetongues of the tile inserted in corresponding grooves of tiles 25. Aswas the case with tiles 25, the flanges 33 along the edges of tiles 31opposite their tongues are secured to furring strips 14.

To the other side of center beam 16 are placed a first and a second rowof ceiling tiles 37 and 3S respectively. The tongues 39 of the tiles ofrow 37 are inserted in. grooves 23 of center beam 16 while the flangesof the opposite edges are secured to furring strips 14 (not shown). Thetongues of the tiles of row 38 are inserted in the grooves of the tilesof row 37 and their opposite flanged edges are in turn secured tofurring strips 14. For further holding strength, additional furringstrips may be added at right angles to furring strips 14 and arranged tobe spaced to receive flanges of the ceiling tiles.

With further reference to center starting lbeam 16, a more decorativeand attractive ceiling can be achieved, if the center beam is made tosimulate a wood beam. The basic material of the wood beam islignocellulose fiber formed into a mat on a fourdrinier or cylindermachine. lt is well known to manufacture insulation board from bagasse,or other vegetable fiber, by first refining the vegetable matter to formfibers, then forming a mat by the deposition of a thin aqueoussuspension of refined fibers on a board forming machine and subsequentlydewatering the mat with final drying. The mat can, if desired beconveniently made in an extended sheet of about l inch in thickness.Various thicknesses of mat can be laminated with waterproof glue to forma mat of greater thickness. In the beam of the present invention, it hasbeen found to be advantageous to form the beam and then cover it with athin laminate of vinyl film. The beam may be grooved as at 22 or 23 by arotary cutter. It is important, however, that the flanges 20 extendoutwardly beyond the sides of beam 16 so as to provide an easy means ofnailing the beam to an overhead support. The beam 16 may be of anyconvenient length to span the ceiling. Preferably a single length ofbeam should be used but, obviously, beams can be abutted longitudinallyto simulate a single beam.

After the center beam 16 has been secured to an overhead along acenterline of the room by nails 1S through its flanges 20, the ceilingpanels 25 are placed in position with their flanges 27 inserted ingrooves 22. The cut back section of panel 25 mates with the flange 20`of beam 16 and forms a snug fit. The opposite side of panel 2,5 has aflange which is secured to the furring strip 14. An additional row ofceiling panels 31 can be then put up to form a subsequent row f panels.If desired another simulated wood beam 40 may be used in place ofanother row of panels. This latter beam 40, however, will not havegrooves on both sides but in crosssection will have grooves and flangescorresponding to the cross-section of the ceiling panels. Additionalrows of ceiling panels may be put up until the edge of the room isreached. It may be necessary to cut the edges of the last row of panelsto fit them in. However, a wall strip can -be used in the conventionalmanner to trim the edge of the ceiling.

Similarly, the other half of the ceiling can be installed by placing arow of panels 37 (to the left of beam 16 as shown) with the flanges ofpanels 37 inserted in grooves 20 on the side of beam 16 opposite thegrooves which received panels 25. The other half of the ceiling iscompleted as above described by adding rows of additional panels asrequired.

An alternative type of ceiling is shown in FIGURE 3 wherein beams 42 and43 are simulated wood beams similar to beam 16 shown in FIGURE l. Thebeams 42 and 43 are grooved, as at 45 and 46 and are secured to theoverhead at spaced intervals equal to the dimension of panels 50. Panels50 are not grooved and flanged in the manner of panels 25 but rather areflat platelike members the edge of which are inserted in the grooves ofbeams 45 and 46. If desired, beams 55 and 56 may be placed at rightangles to beams 42 and 43 and interlocked therewith.

For a more detailed view of the interlocking of beams 55 and 40,reference may be had to FIGURES 4 and 5 which show clearly groove 46 ofbeam 42 and a flange 58 extending outwardly of beam 55. Flange 58 isinserted into groove 46. The area 59 of beam 55 above flange 58 isrecessed to receive the flange above and beyond groove 46 of beam 42 togive a secure snug fit. The faces 60 and 65 of beams 40, 41 and 55 arecovered with a plastic film which is grained to simulate wood. The filmmay be glued evenly over the surface after the fiberboard beam is cut.The film may be printed paper is desired. If desired, the beams may becoated with selected paint or other finishes to provide a Wide varietyof decorative choices.

It should be realized that while cross-sectional shape of the beam hasbeen illustrated and described as rectangular, other cross-sectionalconfigurations could be employed. For example, the outer corners of thebeam could be rounded off rather than being rectangular or the entireexposed surface could be semi-circular, triangular or other geometricalshape.

Also, while the major emphasis has been placed on lignocellulose fibersas the preferred material, other materials such as plastic or metalcould be used. However, it should be understood that since the beam ispreferably used in more economical construction where lignocelluloseceiling tiles or panels are used, the manufacture of the ceiling beamfrom the same material can be easily and cheaply done by using the samebasic equipment and machinery.

We claim: 1. A ceiling assembly fastened to the overhead comprising atleast one simulated wood beam and a plurality of rows of rectangularceiling tiles, the thickness of said beam being substantially greaterthan the thickness of said ceiling tiles so that in assembly said beamis more prominent with respect to said tiles,

each of said tiles having an exposed face and a first pair of adjacentedges having flanges extending ouwardly beyond said exposed face of saidtile, and having grooves below said flanges and a second pair ofadjacent edges having outwardly extending tongues, and recessed areasabove said tongues,

said beam comprising an elongated central body portion having sides,spanning a number of said tiles, and disposed parallel to said rows oftiles,

said beam further having flanges extending outwardly of said sides ofsaid beam, said flanges being fastened to said overhead and beingcoplanar with said flanges of said tiles, and a pair of longitudinalgrooves receiving said extending tongues of said tiles in abutting onesof said rows,

said extending flanges of tiles of rows not abutting said beam `beingfastened to said overhead and being 5 6 received in said recessed areasof tiles in one of 1,602,256 10/ 1926 Sellin 52--589 said abutting rows.2,341,645 2/ 1944 Muench 52-612X 2. A ceiling assembly as recited inclaim 1 in which 2,391,049 12/ 1945 Weiller 52-727 said beam has a thindecorative film laminated thereto. 2,668,991 2/ 1954 Taphoureau 52--5895 3,241,280 3/1966 Kreuzer 52--311 References Cited 3,310,324 3/ 1967Boden 52-495 X UNITED STATES PATENTS ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner87,853 3/1869 Kappes 52--589 927,205 7/1909 Auen 52-495 X 10 Us' C1' X'R985,367 2/1911 Pitney 52-313 52m46l, 480, 496, 727

